Emily Bashforth
Published November 30, 2025 10:05pm
Updated November 30, 2025 10:24pm
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Could Strictly be losing a fan-favourite professional? (Picture: BBC/Ray Burmiston)
Key Points
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- Fans speculate that Johannes Radebe might be leaving Strictly after his emotional comments in the latest results show
- Johannes reflected fondly on his time with partner Alex Kingston, who was eliminated following a close dance-off
- Strictly is facing a shake-up as hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly are also set to leave after this season
Strictly Come Dancing fans are convinced one of their favourite stars won’t be returning next year.
Tonight, Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe became the latest couple eliminated from the BBC dance show, losing in a dance-off against Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon.
Their exit was as heartbreaking as you’d imagine, what with Alex having been in visible pain this weekend due to a rib injury and viewers previously championing her for the final.
However, it wasn’t just Alex’s exit speech that got audiences choked up, as people also noticed Johannes seemed to be saying goodbye.
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Speaking to Tess Daly after the result was confirmed – three judges voted to save Balvinder, while only Anton Du Beke chose Alex – the Doctor Who actress, 62, heaped praise on her pro partner, 38.
In response, Johannes said to her: ‘Thank you, because I have never grinned this much in my life, for the past couple of weeks with you. Thank you, Alex, for being a trooper.
Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe were eliminated from Strictly ahead of Musicals Week (Picture: Kieron McCarron/BBC/PA Wire)
Fans are convinced Johannes was saying goodbye in his speech (Picture: BBC)
‘I appreciate the laughs, and I’ll hold onto the memories, but as far as the dancing goes, I think we’ve achieved what we both wanted to achieve.’
Alex chimed in: ‘These memories are just the beginning for us’, to which Johannes replied: ‘You can say that again.’
‘But to my Strictly family, I love you,’ he continued, looking around the ballroom at the judges, Tess, and his fellow stars.
‘I’m forever grateful. Thank you, thank you, thank you.’
The pair then took to the floor for one last boogie, while viewers at home flocked to social media to speculate that he’s just signed off from Strictly for the final time.
‘Why did that sound like a final goodbye from Johannes?!?’, wrote @thatsmypeachx.
Having joined Strictly in 2018, Johannes’s first partner was Catherine Tyldesley the following year (Picture: PA)
In 2021, he was part of a historic pairing, making the final with John Whaite in Strictly’s first-ever male-male duo (Picture: PA)
‘Johannes saying he’ll be forever grateful to his Strictly family?!?! Does that mean this is his last year??’, mused @simplyamyyxo.
‘That also felt like a goodbye from Johannes too and that is a very sad thing to contemplate’, echoed @SuzDowson73.
@Simy_78 further added that they had an ‘uneasy feeling’ as Johannes was talking, while @tvreality93 argued that he is ‘incredibly busy’ away from the programme now.
‘Johannes is talking like he’s leaving too. Say it isn’t soo!!’, declared @Empress_Tasha.
South African choreographer Johannes joined Strictly’s pro dancer lineup in 2018. He was not given a celebrity partner in his first year, but competed with Catherine Tyldesley the following series.
Johannes proceeded to dance with Caroline Quentin in 2020 and made history as the first male-male pairing with John Whaite in 2021, placing as runners-up.
Johannes will be performing in Kinky Boots from March 2026 (Picture: Ollie Rosser/PA Wire)
He later danced with Ellie Taylor, Annabel Croft, and last year, Montell Douglas.
And while there’s no denying Johannes has put his stamp on Strictly with his innovative routines and groundbreaking partnerships, the show has also served as a springboard for other things.
Johannes has made several other high-profile TV appearances, including on Celebrity MasterChef, The Great British Sewing Bee, and even Doctor Who.
In 2022, he choreographed the West End-themed Rusical on the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. the World, and the year after, he released a bestselling memoir, which is due to be made into a musical film.
Johannes really took things up a notch, though, when he joined the cast of Kinky Boots.
As part of the hit musical’s UK tour between January and July this year, he starred as Lola for his theatre debut.
Johannes has made a huge impact since joining the Strictly cast (Picture: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly will also leave Strictly this year as the show undergoes a major shake-up (Picture: BBC/Rob Parfitt)
Johannes will reprise his role next March when the production transfers to the London Coliseum; hence, Strictly fans are fretting that he will no longer be on their screens each weekend come autumn.
This is not a new rumour, as, when Johannes ventured into the land of musical theatre, he was forced to shut down reports he’d quit Strictly in its favour.
Blasting the reports as ‘lies’, he said in an Instagram post last November: ‘I’m not going nowhere.
Comment now Do you think Johannes might be leaving Strictly?Comment Now‘I love @bbcstrictly and I want to do this beautiful show for as long as they want me – and the body will allow.
‘I have Kinky Boots and other work in the pipeline yes but nothing will take me away.’
Should Johannes choose to bid farewell to Strictly after this series, it would come at a time of major shake-up for the long-running show.
More Trending
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Strictly viewers beg BBC to take action after Alex Kingston winces in pain with injury
Channel: TV TV 14 hours ago By Emily Bashforth - Strictly star makes history by surviving most dance-offs after ‘devastating’ elimination
- Balvinder Sopal’s Strictly Come Dancing journey has felt cruel and unjustified
- Strictly star forced to quit 2025 series due to injury 'making comeback'
Hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess recently announced that this would be their last series, having decided they always intended to leave ‘together’.
It is yet to be confirmed who their replacements will be, but, naturally, speculation is rife, with Bradley Walsh and Alex Jones currently the hot favourites to take over.
The BBC declined to comment. Reps for Johannes Radebe have been contacted for comment.
Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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Arrow MORE: Strictly viewers beg BBC to take action after Alex Kingston winces in pain with injury
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